What's the Nicest Beach in Melbourne?

Nothing is more reminiscent of summertime, ice cream and girls in bikinis than the beach. We're lucky enough in Melbourne to be sprawled around Port Phillip Bay, lining our city with beaches. However, some beaches, particularly those close to the city, have a bad reputation for being a bit dirty. Horror stories of syringes in the sand may be mostly fictitious, but you wouldn't want to subject yourself to a beach strewn with broken glass, pointy shells and washed-up jellyfish when there are so many gorgeous beaches in our city.

My favourite beach is Chelsea Beach, mainly because it always looks so clean. The water is shallow for quite a way out, and it is located conveniently next to a park with barbecue facilities, plenty of food shops, and has changerooms. When Chelsea Beach gets too crowded on scorching summer days, the adjoining suburb of Bonbeach is one train stop away, so it is easy to migrate to a less populated slice of sand and sea.

Perhaps you prefer somewhere more popular, like St Kilda beach and its many nearby attractions. Or maybe your beach of choice is an area like Rickett's Point or Black Rock, which are well-known, but not well-frequented. Some of the most picturesque beaches are in a well-hidden spot, so spill the beans in the comments and let me know your favourite.